A Tour of Sicily to discover the most famous sites and the island's artistic, cultural, and natural treasures.
TRIP OVERVIEW
- Explore the most important cities in the company of a Sicilian Tour Leader and local expert guides, who will show you an insight into Sicilian daily life.
- Visit the island's oldest and most representative monuments and discover all the curiosities that characterize them.
- Enjoy Sicilian delicacies: we have selected food tastings to make your taste buds travel too.
- Take part in a cooking class in the company of a local food expert.
- Discover an authentically restored and still inhabited 18th-century Sicilian aristocratic palace and its furniture collection.
- Visit a farmhouse for an olive oil experience.
- Enjoy a special lunch with a private sommelier.
- Walk on the largest active volcano in Europe in the company of an expert nature guide.
- Sample a selection of fine wines, accompanied by a lunch in a historic cellar.
DAY 1 | WELCOME TO SICILY
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Arrive in Palermo and private transfer to your hotel.
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DAY 2 | MONREALE & PALERMO
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Visit Monreale, its magnificent cathedral and cloister, the
triumph of Norman architecture. A few minutes from Palermo, the town of Monreale offers an exceptional panorama of the Sicilian capital. The Cathedral, with a rugged exterior, shines inside thanks to the beautiful golden Byzantine mosaics. After a short break, we return to Palermo to discover the vibrant city. The tour continues towards the city's historic center, after Piazza Quattro Canti, the Pretoria fountain will catch your attention. At the time of installation, the fountain's statues were considered scandalous because of the nakedness on display, so the square was nicknamed "Square of Shame" by Palermitans. Just behind that, San Cataldo and the Martorana are worth visiting. Continuing along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, towards Porta Nuova, you will reach the majestic Cathedral of Palermo, loved for its Arab-Norman style. |
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DAY 3 | SEGESTA, SALT-PANS & ERICE
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Starting from Palermo, you will reach Segesta in about an hour. The temple of Segesta, dating back to the fifth century BC, has been preserved extraordinarily well. The impressive and imposing aspect will encourage you to imagine when this place was animated by people of an ancient era. Continue to Nubia, to visit the charming salt-pans and learn about the salt production. After lunch, reach Erice, which is a small but delightful village located on the top of Monte San Giuliano. The medieval-style is well preserved. The paths, arches, houses, and churches are all made of stone, with many openings that allow a glimpse of breathtaking panoramas of the north and west coasts. After a walk through the small streets, you will stop at a small family-run biscuit factory. Here you will taste a real delicacy created by the Erice nuns, the Genovese of Erice, a dessert filled with delicious sweet ricotta.
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DAY 4 | SELINUNTE & THE OLIVE OIL EXPERIENCE
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Visit to Selinunte, the most extensive archeological park in Europe. The strategic position on the coast has allowed the ancient city to be one of the essential ports in Sicily. An extraordinary example of the fusion of Phoenician and Greek culture, the town was unfortunately destroyed by the Carthaginians in 409 BC. As evidence of its greatness and power, the ruins of the ancient city and some temples remain. Some of the gigantic columns are still present, partly rebuilt in the 1960s. To continue, your driver will take you to an enchanting farmhouse in Castelvetrano. The estate, surrounded by olive trees and cultivated fields, is a perfect example of a Sicilian beam. Tasting of bread and extra virgin olive oil produced right on the estate. A complete lunch follows the tasting, with local products expertly prepared according to the Sicilian tradition.
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DAY 5 | SICILIAN COOKING CLASS & THE VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES
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Take part in an authentic lunch with friends, just like the locals like to do. A Sicilian local will welcome you in her kitchen, where you will learn the teachings of the Sicilian grandmothers, handed down in the culture of a healthy and genuine diet. Cook together and learn the recipes' history and the memories connected to them. The experience includes three recipes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, the tasting of the dishes prepared, including water, fruit, and local wine, in the local company who will tell you curiosities and anecdotes about
the recipes prepared. After lunch, private visit to the Valley of the Temples. Once the heart of ancient Akragas, it was one of Sicily’s wealthiest and most influential cities. The park became a UNESCO heritage site in 1997 and boasts one of the best-preserved Greek temples in history, the temple of Concordia. |
DAY 6 | SYRACUSE
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The birthplace of Archimedes and home of Pythagoras and Plato, Syracuse was one of the most influential cities in the Mediterranean. The private visit starts from the archaeological park. Inside, you can admire the Greek theater, a great example of ancient Greek architecture. Not to be missed is the Ear of Dionysus, an artificial cave carved into the limestone. Its particular shape allows amplifying the sounds up to sixteen times, producing a powerful echo. The visit continues to Ortigia, the historic center of the city. This strip of land is linked to the rest of the city by two bridges. Its charming medieval streets will take you to the central square where the majestic Duomo dominates the scene. The Duomo is an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, later converted into a church. The facade, destroyed by an earthquake in 1693, was later rebuilt in the Baroque style.
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DAY 7 | NOTO & MODICA WITH CHOCOLATE TASTING
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The tour begins with the visit to the baroque city of Noto. The heart of the town is right on the main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, in the center of which there is the Baroque cathedral, with its beautiful staircase. Along the promenade, you can admire the remarkable baroque-style facades of the elegant buildings. The tour includes a visit to an authentically
restored and still inhabited 18th-century Sicilian aristocratic palace and its furniture collection. After lunch, continue to Modica. The charming city boasts beautiful Baroque churches and palaces and is mainly known for producing particular chocolate. The chocolate tasting takes place in the famous Banajuto laboratory. Here it will be possible to see the artisans making chocolate, according to the traditional Modica methods. |
DAY 8 | CATANIA & TAORMINA
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The historic center of Catania is characterized by baroque buildings and streets with a beautiful view of Volcano Etna, almost touching the Eonian Sea. The fish market is a symbolic place of the town, full of wonderful daily stories. Continue to the restaurant for a light lunch. Here you will be welcomed by your sommelier for an exclusive wine experience and lunch. Continue to Taormina. Favorite summer destination of aristocrats and charming characters, Taormina has become a stop not to be missed if you come to Sicily. The walking tour of Taormina starts from Porta Messina, with the first stop in front of Palazzo Corvaja, a beautiful Norman-style building. Then, continuing to Piazza Vittorio Veneto, you will reach the Greek Theater. Its spectacular location offers a magnificent view of the coast and Mount Etna. The theater is one of the most symbolic monuments in Sicily, built in the Hellenic period, and is still used today for concerts and outdoor performances. Next, continue with a walk along Corso Umberto I. Here there are many shops where you can find typical Sicilian products and enjoy a little relaxation.
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DAY 9 | MT. ETNA
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Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe, a symbol of eastern Sicily. Etna park offers a beautiful setting for lovers of trekking and walks surrounded by nature. This Etna Jeep tour is designed for lovers of adventure, wild nature, and less traveled routes. Equipped with helmets and torches provided by our staff, you will explore the caves of the old and new lava flows in the company of our experts. After light trekking, your driver will take you to a local winery. The continuous volcanic eruptions have created a suitable condition for cultivating the vineyards, which surround the entire perimeter area. The winery we have selected is one of the most renowned in the area. After visiting the barrels and learning the techniques of wine production, you will participate in a technical wine tasting, combined with a light lunch based on local products, enhancing the wines' flavor and aromas.
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DAY 10 | DEPART SICILY
Private transfer to Catania airport.
ITALY BESPOKE TOURS SRLS
Via dei Mille 13, 22100 Como, Italy
+39 351 339 9365 | info@italybespoketours.com
Business VAT Registration: 04005400132 | Nobis Assicurazioni Spa n. 202505812 | REA MB-2648694
Via dei Mille 13, 22100 Como, Italy
+39 351 339 9365 | info@italybespoketours.com
Business VAT Registration: 04005400132 | Nobis Assicurazioni Spa n. 202505812 | REA MB-2648694
